A Northampton nightclub has closed its doors and all of its staff have been made redundant.
Balestra in the town’s Market Square has been put on the market for £1.1 million, just two-and-a-half years after its owners ploughed £250,000 into re-fitting the venue.
The club’s owners, Atmosphere Bars and Clubs, have gone into administration and all 21 employees of Balestra have lost their jobs.
Workmen were seen on Thursday pushing shopping trolleys full of alcohol out of the venue and loading them into a van.
Daniel Butters, from administrators Deloitte, said: “Unfortunately, we’ve had to close a number of the Atmosphere Bars and Clubs’ venues which have suffered as a result of reductions in consumer spending and general difficulties in the market.
“We’re grateful for the continued support of all employees and stakeholders to the business during this difficult time.”
A total of 186 employees of Atmosphere Bars and Clubs across the UK have been made redundant and 11 of the company’s venues have closed.
Balestra, named after an attacking move in fencing, opened in November 2010 after the former Chicago Rock Cafe closed.
The property was the town’s Corn Exchange in the 17th Century and in the 1960s was converted into an Odeon Cinema.
At the time Balestra was launched, it created 35 new jobs in the town and had a capacity of 730.
A spokesman for Fleurets leisure property specialists, who are marketing the property on their wesbite for £1.1 million, confirmed Balestra was up for sale.
Details on the letting agent’s website said staff were unaware of the sale and viewings of the property must be “discreet”.
Atmosphere Bars and Clubs has another 13 venues which are trading as normal and the joint administrators will continue to review the options for the sale of these venues.